Vishwamitra's Past: He Became a Brahmarshi

Around this time, Trishanku, the king of the Solar Dynasty, was renowned for his youthful charm. Obsessed with his own appearance, he approached the royal guru, Vashishtha, with an unusual request: to remain young forever. Vashishtha, however, warned him against such folly. Undeterred, Trishanku turned to Vashishtha’s sons for assistance. Enraged by his disregard for their father’s counsel, they cursed him to become a Chandala—an outcaste often tasked with guarding cremation grounds.

In an instant, Trishanku lost his radiant beauty and became grotesque in appearance. Desperate for redemption, he sought Vishwamitra’s aid. Moved by Trishanku’s plight, Vishwamitra performed a powerful yagya, enabling Trishanku to ascend to Svarga.

Trishanku eventually reached Svarga, but Indra, the ruler of Svarga, was furious. Trishanku had ignored the advice of his guru, Vashishth, and acted disobediently. As punishment, Indra refused to admit him into Svarga and caused him to fall back toward Earth. However, Vishwamitra intervened, halting Trishanku's descent midway. Since then, Trishanku has remained suspended between Svarga and Earth, trapped in a state of helplessness. 

To achieve this feat, Vishwamitra expended all the strength and power he had accumulated through his penance. Exhausted, he resumed his meditation to regain his energy. Alarmed by his growing power, the gods sent the heavenly apsara Menaka to disrupt his penance. Menaka's beauty mesmerized Vishwamitra, causing him to lose control of his senses and abandon his meditation.

In time, Vishwamitra regained his focus, remembering his ultimate goal of becoming a Brahmarshi. This time, his determination was unwavering. Pleased by his unrelenting dedication, Lord Brahma conferred upon him the esteemed title of "Brahmarshi."

Vishwamitra reflected deeply on the lessons learned from his past mistakes. He sought Vashishtha's acknowledgment of his newly earned title. Vashishtha, recognizing Vishwamitra's transformation, accepted him as a Brahmarshi. Only then did Vishwamitra feel truly fulfilled.